Dog needs to take hunter-safety course

Wednesday

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- A hunter is recovering after he was shot in the leg by his dog, who tripped his shotgun's trigger, an official said yesterday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- A hunter is recovering after he was shot in the leg by his dog, who tripped his shotgun's trigger, an official said yesterday.

James Harris, 37, of Tama, was hit in the calf Saturday, the opening day of pheasant season, said Alan Foster, a spokesman with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

"He had surgery and is doing pretty well," he said. "He took between 100-120 pellets in about a 4-inch circle to his calf."

Harris was listed in good condition yesterday, officials at University Hospitals in Iowa City said.

Harris was hunting with a group about 3 miles north of Grinnell. The group shot a bird, and when Harris went to get it, he put his gun on the ground to cross a fence. As he crossed the fence, his hunting dog stepped on the shotgun, Foster said.

The gun was about 3 feet from his leg, Foster said.

The dog was not injured.

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